With aging, a patient may notice the upper lids interfere with vision and feel “heavy.” This can be caused by excess upper eyelid skin which is treated with upper eyelid blepharoplasty, also known as an “eyelid lift.”
Reasons for undergoing an upper blepharoplasty may be functional (to reduce obstruction of vision by overhanging skin), cosmetic (to reduce the appearance of aging), or both. Functional upper blepharoplasty involves reduction of the upper eyelid skin to improve visual obstruction caused by redundant lid tissue. Many insurance providers consider upper blepharoplasty a covered procedure when there is a reduction of the peripheral vision. Our staff will perform the appropriate testing to evaluate the degree that the upper eyelids are interfering with vision and help determine whether insurance coverage is available.
The procedure is done with local anesthesia and involves removing the excess skin from the upper eyelid. The incisions are then closed with sutures. A small amount of the orbicularis oculi (the muscle that closes the eyelid) or surrounding fat tissue is also sometimes removed. The recovery period is generally mild with no prescription pain medications needed, and normal activities may be resumed immediately in most cases. Patients may have mild bruising or swelling around the eyes for 1-2 weeks which can be helped with cool compresses. Antibiotic ointment is used until the time of the suture removal, usually one week post-op.
Call today to schedule your appointment to see if a blepharoplasty might be right for you!
